Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) reacts after an injury during the fourth quarter of Game 1 in the first round of the NBA basketball playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers in Chicago, Saturday, April 28, 2012. The Bulls won 103-91. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) ORG XMIT: CXA107

Add the three-time reigning NBA scoring champ among those not counting out Chicago star Derrick Rose.

Kevin Durant said the Bulls point guard, who mangled his knee in last year's playoffs, will soon be back and better than ever.

“I know he's going to get back stronger and better,” said Durant before the Thunder played the Bulls in Chicago on Tuesday night. “I've been praying for him, of course. And I've been watching the (workout) videos online, so I'm sure he's going to have a really, really nice comeback here for the Bulls and be at full strength.”

Durant said he expects Rose to benefit from a stringent workout regimen.

Thunder guard Eric Maynor, who suffered through a similar knee injury last season, said his best piece of advice to Rose would be to remain patient and not rush back.

“It's going to be good days, it's going to be bad days,” Maynor said. “But you just got to keep working. Work throughout all of it.”

LIGGINS PLAYS THE UNITED CENTER

Chicago native DeAndre Liggins played inside the United Center for the first time Tuesday against the Bulls.

The third-year guard had been to the United Center during his two seasons with Orlando but didn't log minutes.

“It's going to be exciting to play in front of my family,” said Liggins, who estimated 10 relatives were in attendance, before the game.

Liggins spent time Monday night with his parents, sister and grandmother and got what he called “a home-cooked meal.”

Asked if it ever gets old returning to Chicago, Liggins said “Not at all, because it's not too many times I'll be able to come back home. This is one of the times. We get to come back Nov. 8 — if I'm still here.”

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